Monday, September 7, 2009

Natural Therapies Depression � Elevate Your Mood

Before taking up the topic of natural therapies depression, we must know what is depression? Depression is a very frequent psychological problem encountered in medical practice. Studies suggest that 13 to 20 percent of American adults exhibit some depressive symptoms. The mortality rate amongst those who are depressed is four times greater than in those without depression and major depression accounts for 60 percent of all suicides. Despite this professional recognition and despite the fact that depression is a treatable condition, only about one third of depressed patients receive appropriate intervention. We shall now learn about natural therapies depression �

Which Natural Therapies Are Used For Depression?

In natural therapies depression, mostly a dietary approach is used. The nutritional treatment of depression includes dietary modifications, supportive treatment with minerals and vitamins and supplementation with specific amino acids, which are precursors of neurotransmitters. Dietary modification and vitamin and mineral supplementation tends to reduce the severity of depression or result in an improvement in general well-being in some cases of depression. But these interventions are usually considered adjunctive as they are not typically effective by themselves as a treatment for clinical depression.

On the other hand, supplementation with the amino acids L-tyrosine and D,L-phenylalanine can be used as an alternative to antidepressant drugs and has been found effective in many cases. Another particularly effective treatment is using the amino acid L-tryptophan. In natural therapies depression, vitamin and mineral therapy is also employed. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to depression. Correcting deficiencies, if present, often relieves depression. However, even if a deficiency cannot be demonstrated, nutritional supplementation improve symptoms in selected groups of depressed patients.

In natural therapies depression, some phyto-medicine considerations are also included. One of these is St. John's wort that is Hypericum perforatum. This is a standardized extract and is licensed in Germany and other European countries as a treatment for mild and moderate depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

How Helpful Will Be Natural Therapies Depression?

Natural therapies depression has been found effective in many cases. For many nutrition-oriented practitioners the answer to depression is as simple as one's own diet. Also natural therapies depression comes sans any or fewer side effects.